Keep the Mac’s ⌘Tab if
- You keep one window per app most of the time.
- You want nothing to install and no permission to give.
Compare
WindowHop, AltTab or the Mac’s own ⌘Tab?
The Mac’s ⌘Tab stops at the app. AltTab reaches every window, with search and some styles in a paid Pro version. WindowHop reaches every window with everything free, no Screen Recording for its default style, and no telemetry.
Side by side
What each switcher does.
- Everything free, no Pro version
- No Screen Recording for the default style
- No telemetry, no crash reports
- ⌘Tab falls back to Apple’s if WindowHop stops
| Feature | Mac App Switcher | WindowHop | AltTab |
|---|---|---|---|
| What ⌘Tab shows | Apps only | Every window | Every window, on ⌥Tab by default |
| Three windows of one app | One icon; then ⌘` to step through them | Three tiles, one press away | Three tiles |
| Windows on other Spaces | Moves you to the app’s Space | Yes, once you have visited that Space | Yes, on every Space |
| Windows on other displays | The app, not its windows | Yes | Yes |
| Styles | App icons | App Icons and Window Previews, both free | Thumbnails for free; App Icons and Titles only in Pro |
| Search by typing | No | No: one gesture, nothing to type | Yes, but only in Pro |
| Screen Recording permission | Not needed | Not needed (only for the optional Window Previews) | Needed for Thumbnails, the free style |
| Accessibility permission | Not needed | Needed | Needed |
| Settings | None | Four short panes, good defaults | Many options; up to 9 shortcuts in Pro |
| Price | Included with macOS | Free, everything included | Free; Pro costs $9.99, or $24.99 with lifetime updates |
| Data it sends | Part of macOS | Only the update check: no telemetry, no crash reports | Update checks, and crash reports if you allow them |
| macOS interfaces | Built in | Public Apple APIs only | Public and private macOS APIs |
| Open source | No | Yes, GPL-3.0 | Yes, GPL-3.0 |
| Macs | Every Mac | Apple silicon, macOS 26 or later | Intel and Apple silicon, macOS 12 or later |
Checked on 23 September 2026, with AltTab 11.7.1. Sources: Mac keyboard shortcuts, Apple, AltTab pricing, AltTab source code. Found something out of date? Tell us.
Which one fits you
Choose by how you work.
Choose WindowHop if
- You keep several windows of the same app open.
- You want ⌘Tab itself to reach them, with nothing to set up.
- You want every feature free, without Screen Recording or telemetry.
- You want Apple’s ⌘Tab back at once if WindowHop ever stops.
- You have an Apple silicon Mac with macOS 26 or later.
Choose AltTab if
- You want to search windows by typing, and a Pro licence is fine.
- You want more styles, sizes and shortcuts.
- You have an Intel Mac or a macOS version older than macOS 26.
WindowHop and AltTab are free and open source under GPL-3.0. WindowHop keeps AltTab’s attribution and history, and credits Louis Pontoise (lwouis) and the AltTab contributors.
Try it
See if WindowHop is enough for you.
Two minutes to install, one drag to remove, and nothing to pay.